Cybersecurity Best Practices for Small Business

It’s easy to believe that cybersecurity is only for big companies, but small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) should be wary of falling into the trap of believing they are too little to be spotted by hackers. Some of the best cybersecurity in Orange County are with firms such as National Tech Advisors.  Since the coronavirus outbreak gripped the global economy and forced most employees to work from home, small businesses have faced plenty of issues. Millions of small businesses throughout the world, who had no prior experience with cybersecurity, were suddenly confronted with several new concerns, ranging from which VPNs to use to how to work safely from afar.

What are the benefits of cybersecurity to small businesses?

It is well known that small businesses operate on a tight budget. This could indicate that they do not believe they have the time or funding to prioritize security measures at the same level as day-to-day operations. As a result, rather than being a dedicated position, it becomes a part of an individual’s function, training and software risks become obsolete, and data security becomes an afterthought.

To address this issue, small businesses must guarantee that cybersecurity is considered as a top concern, just as physical security of the office space is. To do so, a small business cybersecurity plan must establish and update best practices on a regular basis.

Improving security does not have to be expensive, but it does necessitate a company’s commitment in order to prevent becoming the next target of a cyberattack. Small and mid-sized businesses may strengthen both their security and the company culture around the importance and implementation of effective security measures by following cybersecurity best practices.

Tips for Small Businesses concerning Cybersecurity in Orange County

Businesses are accountable for securing both their clients’ and workers’ personal information. How can you protect your small business from becoming the next victim of a cyber-attack?

Here are some cybersecurity best practices that your small business may implement to ensure that your data is protected from prospective hackers and cyber assaults.

1. Secure data, computers, and networks against cyber-attacks

Maintain a clean machine: the strongest defenses against viruses, malware, and other internet threats are the latest security software, web browser, and operating system. Configure your antivirus software to scan after each update. Other important software updates should be installed as soon as they become available.

2. Make copies of critical corporate data and information as backups.

Back up your data on all PCs on a regular basis. Word processing docs, electronic spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files, and accounts receivable/payable files are all examples of critical data. If possible, backup data automatically or at least regularly, and store the copies offsite or in the cloud.

3. Educate personnel on the importance of security.

Establish basic security practices and regulations for employees, such as mandating secure passwords, and proper Internet use rules that spell out the consequences of breaching corporate cybersecurity policy. Create guidelines as to how to manage and protect customer information and other sensitive data.

4. Protect your Internet connection using a firewall.

A firewall is a collection of applications that work together to restrict unauthorized access to data on a private network. Make sure your operating system’s firewall is turned on, or download and install free firewall software from the internet. If your staff work from home, make sure their computers are protected by a firewall.

5. Keep your Wi-Fi networks safe.

If your office has a Wi-Fi network, make sure it is safe, encrypted, and hidden. Set up your wireless access point or router so that it does not broadcast the network name, also known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID), to hide your Wi-Fi network. The router’s access is password-protected.

6. Authentication and passwords

Employees should be required to use unique passwords and change them every three months. Consider using multi-factor authentication, which requires more information than just a password to obtain access. Check with your sensitive data vendors, particularly financial institutions, to discover if multi-factor authentication is available for your account.

7. Make a strategy for dealing with mobile devices.

Mobile devices can pose serious security and management problems, especially if they contain sensitive data or have access to the business network. To prevent criminals from stealing information while the phone is on public networks, require users to password-protect their devices, encrypt their data, and install security software. Set up protocols for reporting missing or stolen equipment.

8. Create user accounts for each employee and restrict physical access to your computer.

Unauthorized individuals should not be able to access or utilize private computers. Laptops are particularly vulnerable to theft or loss, so keep them locked up while not in use. Make sure that each employee has their own user account and that secure passwords are required. Only trusted IT staff and critical people should be given administrative privileges.

9. Use the best procedures when it comes to credit cards.

Collaborating with banks or processors to secure the usage of the most reliable and proven tools and anti-fraud services. Additional security obligations may be imposed by agreements with your bank or processor. Separate payment systems from other, less secure programs, and don’t process payments and surf the Internet on the same computer.

10. Limit employee access to data and information, as well as software installation authority.

Allowing employees access to all data systems is not a good idea. Employees should only have access to the data systems that they require for their tasks, and they should not be allowed to install software without permission.

11. Investing in cybersecurity insurance

A data leak can have serious implications. After a cyber-attack, you may not have the funds to pay the extortion, or the cost may severely harm your business. You’ll have to spend money informing affected customers and setting up credit monitoring if you save credit card numbers or personal information. Then there’s the possibility of legal action, which is an even bigger headache. Looking for cybersecurity in Orange County can give you some peace of mind.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is a preventative strategy; you must invest in it before something bad happens to your company, not after it has already happened. Therefore, the perfect time to begin is right now. Whether or not you “think” your small business is a frequent target of cybercriminals, the truth remains that all small businesses are in danger of being targeted. However, even a small investment in cybersecurity defenses in 2021 and beyond should be enough to ward off and/or mitigate the majority of potential threats.

National Tech Advisors, offers a variety of cybersecurity in Orange County to provide business owners peace of mind that their company is safe, so they can focus on providing service to your clients and customers. Our goal is to assist firms with limited resources in developing a cost-effective enterprise-class security program.

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